Seizing a Bow Barehanded, Leading the Troops in a Breakout

Thwip, thwip, thwip!

Several elite scouts were struck by arrows and fell in an instant. Feng Quan and Feng Ruo grabbed Zhao Cheng and quickly dodged into the brush behind a tree, their faces tense.

"Damn it, the enemy had an ambush ready! We've walked right into their trap!"

At that moment, rustling footsteps came from all directions, and bowstrings twanged on every side.

Before they knew it, they had been surrounded.

They had all come in disguise, carrying no more than woodcutting knives. On top of that, the enemy had been prepared in advance and had a large force, surrounding them tightly.

Even the most elite scouts were helpless in this situation.

Zhao Cheng looked into the woods and spotted enemy figures flickering in and out of sight.

"Hide here. I'll go take a look..."

Feng Quan and Feng Ruo were startled. They had just started to grab him when they realized Zhao Cheng had already vanished into the forest ahead.

His figure was like a hunting leopard, darting away in an instant.

Before long, cries of pain suddenly rang out from the direction Zhao Cheng had gone, followed by the explosive twang of a bowstring.

The scouts were all startled.

That bowstring's explosive twang was unmistakable. Who else could draw a bow like that besides the Chief Commandant?

"Quick, break through in the Chief Commandant's direction!"

As if they had received a clear signal, the scouts moved in perfect unison toward the sound of the bow.

The explosive twang of the bowstring rang out nearby, then kept advancing into the distance.

Feng Quan and Feng Ruo led the scouts close behind. Along the way, they spotted plenty of enemy corpses, each with an arrow through the throat. They immediately stripped the equipment from the bodies.

It would serve as both a disguise and a means of resistance.

Then they followed the direction of the bowstring's explosive twang and began their breakout.

That familiar feeling had returned.

With Zhao Cheng leading the way, they barely encountered any enemies. Before long, they had broken through the encirclement and truly entered the area where Ye County's residents gathered supplies.

At last, everyone let out a long breath of relief.

Zhao Cheng discarded his bow and arrows and rejoined the others.

"Though we've broken through, supplies are scarce in the city now. Not only the residents but the Han Army will send people in to gather supplies. There'll be no shortage of scouts and sentries.

"To avoid alerting them, we'll split up from here and keep in touch using signals."

At once, the scouts dispersed and went into hiding.

Only Feng Quan and Feng Ruo stayed with Zhao Cheng, and the three continued deeper into the mountains.

Kunyang Mountain was steep, full of cliffs and dense forests. There were also many gorges, some only wide enough for one or two people to pass through.

The farther Zhao Cheng and the others walked, the more they began to see narrow paths trampled by woodcutters and hunters.

Feng Quan and Feng Ruo also kept a certain distance from Zhao Cheng and went off to gather firewood.

Woodcutters couldn't return to the city without firewood, so Feng Quan and Feng Ruo still needed to gather a large bundle before they could prepare to go back.

Zhao Cheng waited without a hint of impatience. He found a pile of dead leaves and branches and started a fire by friction.

He took the two wild rabbits he had caught, cleaned them up in a few quick movements, skewered them on a wooden spear, and roasted them.

By the time Feng Quan and Feng Ruo had gathered nearly enough firewood, Zhao Cheng's rabbits were already crisp on the outside and tender within, their aroma wafting through the air.

He tore off a rabbit leg and took a bite. Its rich flavor filled his mouth, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

After a few hearty bites, he had polished off the rabbit leg.

Just as he was about to tear off a leg from the other rabbit, footsteps sounded in the distance, crushing dead branches and leaves with a crackle.

At the same time, someone shouted angrily, "Who's making a fire here?!"

Zhao Cheng looked up and saw two Han soldiers wearing light armor striding over aggressively, glaring at him.

He suppressed the urge to kill them and steal their lifespans, then explained, "Sirs, I'm a hunter from the city. I've been working in the mountains too long and was starving. I just caught some game and thought I'd fill my stomach..."

The two Han soldiers glanced at Zhao Cheng, then looked away. Their eyes had locked onto the roasted rabbits, crisp on the outside and tender within, their aroma clinging to them. Each swallowed.

The big-headed soldier on the left glared at him and demanded, "With the Qin Army bearing down on us, you're making smoke here in the mountains. Isn't that a signal to pass on military intelligence?"

The other soldier, with the thick neck, kept staring at the roasted rabbit. He swallowed again, barely able to wait. "You must be a Qin spy! Seize him!"

Zhao Cheng had already seen through their true intentions. His thoughts raced, and he decided to let them live and use them as stepping-stones.

So he raised his hunting knife, cut the rabbit in half, and held the pieces out to them.

"You two have worked hard defending the city. Please accept this small token of my appreciation."

The two men grinned so widely their mouths nearly stretched to the backs of their heads. They took the rabbit and started happily gnawing on it, paying Zhao Cheng no further attention.

As they ate, they mumbled, "You're thoughtful... Mm! This rabbit's roasted nicely."

"Looks like you're a hunter who often comes up the mountain to roast rabbits. A real enemy spy wouldn't have this kind of skill."

The fragrant roast rabbit made the two of them so happy they had no idea they had just walked past the gates of hell twice.

Zhao Cheng put on a worried expression. "Sirs, the Qin Army is so vicious. If they can't take the city, won't they really come up into these mountains and kill people?"

The big-headed soldier said, "Don't worry. The general ordered us to keep watch in these mountains. With our keen senses, the Qin Army won't escape our notice!"

"What's more, our general has already made arrangements east of Kunyang Mountain, laying a net that covers heaven and earth. If the Qin Army dares to come, they'll never make it back!"

"Even if one or two slip through the net, there are plenty of troops gathering supplies in North Mountain, keeping watch and raising the alarm. We'll kill every one we see!"

Thick Neck chimed in, "It's only because you roasted that rabbit decently that we didn't seize you just now for that suspicious behavior!"

What keen senses? As if!

Zhao Cheng was speechless, but he still wore a worried expression. "I've been on tenterhooks all day, afraid some Qin soldier might leap out and hack me to death."

"How about this? I'm willing to give this roe deer to the garrison to replenish its supplies. I only ask that I return to the city with you two."

Big Head pointed at Zhao Cheng and mocked him. "You look tall and brawny, and you seem like a capable hunter. Why are you so timid?"

Thick Neck kept glancing at Zhao Cheng's other wild rabbit. "That rabbit of yours... why not roast it too?"

Zhao Cheng hurriedly guarded the other rabbit as though his life depended on it. "The rice jar at home is nearly empty. I've got my parents and little sister to feed. This rabbit is all we have to keep us going a few more days..."

Big Head waved a hand impatiently. "Fine, fine. You can come back with us in a bit. But you have to say we caught the roe deer."

Zhao Cheng nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course."

The two soldiers polished off the roasted rabbits in their hands, picking even the scraps of meat from between the bones. Only then did they brush themselves off and stand up.

"Come on, follow us back to the city."

But Zhao Cheng suddenly shouted toward the woods, "Feng Quan, Feng Ruo! Hurry up, we're going home!"

"Coming, coming!"

The two men, drenched in sweat, ran over from deep in the woods.

They were each bent under a huge bundle of firewood.

When they saw the two Han soldiers standing beside Zhao Cheng, their hearts jolted. They hunched their backs even more and lowered their heads.

Good heavens, where had the Chief Commandant found two Han soldiers to accompany him?

The two soldiers had looked a little impatient, but when they saw the large bundles of firewood on Feng Ruo and Feng Quan's backs, smiles crept onto their faces.

Big Head looked at Zhao Cheng and pointed to the firewood on the two men's backs.

Zhao Cheng caught his meaning and said to Feng Quan and Feng Ruo, "The Qin Army's stirring up trouble, so it's dangerous in the mountains. These two sirs are kind enough to escort us into the city."

"We can't let them make the trip for nothing, so this firewood of yours..."

Feng Quan and Feng Ruo were dumbfounded. Were those two Han soldiers blind? They were actually escorting enemy spies into the city?

But they reacted quickly. "Thank you, sirs! Thank you, sirs! As long as we can get home safely, we're willing to give you half the firewood to replenish your supplies."

The two soldiers beamed. "Let's go."

The army needed firewood for warmth at night and for cooking. It was essential.

The soldiers sent out like them were not only responsible for patrolling and keeping watch, but also had to gather a certain amount of supplies to bring back. They had quotas to meet.

But now the two of them didn't have to lift a finger and could still get a roe deer and two huge bundles of firewood. Naturally, they could hardly stop grinning.

So the two led Zhao Cheng and his companions toward Ye County, swaggering along with the ease of men who knew the way.

Along the road, Zhao Cheng chatted with them from time to time, expressing his admiration at every turn. The two men grew more and more pleased with themselves and let slip a great deal of information about the city.

As they went, they occasionally ran into other Han soldiers patrolling the mountains and gathering supplies.

"Oh! A roe deer!"

"Haha, yeah. This young fellow helped us catch it."

"And two huge bundles of firewood, too. You made quite a haul this trip."

"Can't be helped. They were so earnest about it, we couldn't refuse."

Big Head greeted the others while showing off his "haul."

With him as cover, Zhao Cheng and the others swaggered along, and no one noticed anything amiss.

They soon arrived at the north side of the city.

Ye County's northern side was backed by steep mountain cliffs. In many places there was no city wall at all; the sheer cliffs alone made it impossible for anyone to pass.

Between some of the mountains were narrow gorges through which residents could leave the city and enter the mountains. The Han Army had set up checkpoints there to guard against infiltration and small-scale incursions.

But no matter how carefully you guarded, you couldn't guard against a traitor within.

Big Head and Thick Neck led Zhao Cheng and the other two to the checkpoint at Wolf Tooth Gorge. The guards had meant to stop them for questioning, but Big Head waved a hand with the roe deer slung over his shoulder.

"We're on the same side! These are hunters and woodcutters from the city."

The guard looked at the roe deer on Big Head's shoulder, then at the wild rabbit skewered on the wooden spear over Zhao Cheng's shoulder. He still insisted, "No. We have to search you."

"I'll take a look at that rabbit. Maybe you've hidden a weapon inside it."

Thick Neck, carrying two huge bundles of firewood, said, "What's there to search? Come on, I'll go get Lord Xu. We can roast the roe deer and eat."

Hearing that, the guard relaxed too. His attention was drawn to the roe deer, and he let Zhao Cheng and the other two enter the city.

But Zhao Cheng had only taken a few steps when Big Head suddenly called after him, "You, hunter! Stop!"

Feng Quan and Feng Ruo tensed from head to toe.

Zhao Cheng turned around. "What is it?"

Big Head said, "Your roast meat tasted good. Stay and roast the roe deer before you go."

What the hell?

Zhao Cheng was speechless. He signaled behind his back for Feng Ruo and Feng Quan to go on into the city, then walked toward the garrison checkpoint.

Feng Quan and Feng Ruo were terribly anxious.

If they searched them carefully, they might not get through. But going to roast a roe deer in the enemy camp, face-to-face with an officer—how was that any different from dancing on the tip of a knife? If they gave themselves away, wouldn't they be walking right into the tiger's den?

They were frantic inside, but could only watch helplessly as Zhao Cheng entered the camp. There was nothing they could do.

Inside the camp.

Thick Neck went to the Centurion and said they had caught a roe deer and wished to present it to him. The Centurion was delighted and headed into the camp.

Seeing how deftly and cleanly Zhao Cheng butchered the roe deer, he nodded in satisfaction.

"You've got good technique. Are you a hunter from North Market?"

Zhao Cheng's expression didn't change. He smiled calmly. "You jest, sir. We don't have a North Market in our city. I'm from East Market; my home is not far south of it."

Good thing he'd wheedled so much information about the city out of Big Head earlier. Otherwise, that one question would have exposed him!

The Centurion nodded. "I misspoke. When you come back from hunting, do you usually clean the game at night and sell it at East Market?"

Zhao Cheng kept smiling calmly. "Sir, you probably have your servants do the shopping. East Market is the morning market; it's closed at night.

"I usually clean the game at night and go out to sell it in the morning, so I can buy rice. I don't often find anything when I go up the mountain. Only when I'm lucky enough to catch extra can my family eat some."

The Centurion's smile softened a little. His gaze passed over Zhao Cheng's arm, briefly exposed as he worked. Seeing no scars from swords or blades, he lost his suspicions.

Though the man was tall and powerfully built, he didn't look like a soldier. He was probably in such good shape because he had spent years hunting and eating meat.

By now, the roe deer was roasted crisp on the outside and tender within, sizzling with oil and filling the air with its fragrance.

The Centurion's appetite stirred. He glanced at the wild rabbit beside him. "Why aren't you roasting that rabbit too?"

Zhao Cheng said with difficulty, "Sir, we're out of rice at home. My elderly parents and little sister are waiting for something to eat. I have to take this rabbit to trade for grain to keep them alive..."

The Centurion wasn't moved. "Roast that one too. You can go hunting again tomorrow."

Zhao Cheng's heart ached. He was starting to think about killing them.

There were over a hundred men in this camp, and that still wouldn't be enough for him to kill.

But killing them would alert the enemy, making everything that followed much less convenient.

The city held tens of thousands of defenders. Without a large army backing him, it might take him three days and three nights to kill them all. What a hassle.

As his thoughts raced, Zhao Cheng still held back. Through gritted teeth, he cleaned the wild rabbit.

Damn it! He'd caught two rabbits and had only gotten to eat one rabbit leg!

Once I take this city, you're the first one I'll roast, Centurion.